Open Job Doors By Recognizing Veterans’ Training (The Courant) It should be a point of national shame that the unemployment rate for military veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq (or both) since Sept. 11, 2001 — known as “Gulf War II veterans” — is well above the national average. It’s nearly 10 percent for veterans vs. 7 percent for the population as a whole.

Jail Offers New Veterans Program (SurfKy.com) The Supported Services for Veterans and Families through the Pennyroyal Mental Health Center of Hopkinsville has brought its new program to the Hopkins County Jail for veterans and their families, who are suffering from difficult times.

VA Commits To Support Classes For Nearly 1,000 Tennessee Veterans (The Chattanoogan) U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and U.S. Reps. Diane Black and Phil Roe Tuesday announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs had reversed its previous decision not to fund innovative learning support classes for Tennessee veterans pursuing further education under the G.I. Bill.

$1.1 Million VA Grant Helping Struggling Vets (Military.com) A $1.1 million grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding Charlotte’s safety net for struggling veterans to include those in danger of losing their homes.

Duck Dynasty products under fire at VA medical center (ABQJournal.com) A Vietnam veteran has taken aim at Duck Dynasty products on sale at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center store in Albuquerque, and it looks like all the items in his cross hairs will be removed from the canteen’s shelves.

Pensions continue to grow for military brass (USA Today) Top military brass will keep their specially boosted pensions despite the December budget deal that trimmed pension rates for other military retirees, Pentagon officials said Tuesday.